Lige Vernon Calkins

“Honesty is more to be valued than great riches.” - Docie

This message was penned by our grandmother to our father in 1941. These words must have struck home for a 9 year old boy because he lived by them his whole life.

Our father has been a beacon to us all, and we honor and celebrate this remarkable man's life. On Friday, May 13, Lige Calkins passed away peacefully with his four children at his side.

He was born in Seattle, WA, on Feb 11, 1931 to Cecil and Miriam Calkins. They moved to Harlan, Oregon, when he was 2.

Between 1938 and 1940 our father lost both his parents. His father died in a logging accident and his mother passed away one year later from a brief illness. Lige and his 3 sisters were raised by their grandparents R.E. and May Grant. He would spend the next 83 years of his life in the Harlan Valley. He was a husband, a father, grandfather, a logger, and a cherished friend.

To quote the Oregonian newspaper: "He was a classically handsome man, with piercing blue eyes and wavy hair. He had a laugh that came from deep inside his body and the joy was infectious."

At the age of 9 he contracted polio and suffered the effects his whole life. However, he never allowed his disability to get in the way of achieving what he wanted and he never complained.

Like his father, he went to work in the woods at an early age, cutting timber, and operating heavy equipment. Logging was his passion, if he wasn't logging, he was talking about logging!

Our father was also a gifted mechanic - there wasn't a problem he couldn't solve with a little creative ingenuity. His hobbies included restoring antique tractors, knife making, and welding cowboys and horses out of old horseshoes (and making apple cider!).

On August 23, 1953 he married Barbara McClellan and raised 4 children on the same spot he was brought up as a child.

Survivors include his son, Larry Calkins of Issaquah, WA, daughters Marcy Sandstrom of Philomath, OR, Debbie Bradley of Nashville, OR, Micki Russell of Burntwoods, OR, Marlene Suggs of Corvallis, OR, Charlotte McDonald of Gresham OR and Paula LaLonde of McMinnville, OR. Seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife Barbara, sister Jackie Hoohuli of Hilo, Hawaii, and grandson Donny Russell.

* For those wishing to make a donation in Lige's memory, the family would like you to consider Shriners Hospital for children, Portland, Oregon

http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/Locations/portland

A celebration of life will be held at Dad's home in Harlan on Saturday, May 21 at 1 PM 18827 Harlan Road  Eddyville, OR 97343

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